Pocket

App makers are pushing out updates quicker than ever just in time for the launch of the new lineup of Nexus devices from Google. This morning, the makers of Pocket have released version 4.3 to Google Play, which brings a great list of new performance tweaks and features.

The app’s description boasts faster scrolling, booting up time, and overall better responsiveness. On top of performance enhancements, users can now edit tags while reading, there was some bug fixes for ASUS devices, and some other minor fixes.

Pocket, formerly Read It Later, received an update on Android this morning that includes a new feature called “Listen.” This new feature allows for speech-to-text playback of your saved articles, in case you don’t feel like straining your eyes after a long day’s work. Thanks to the Android platform simplifying the process dramatically, the developers of Pocket were able to create this app during one of their “Friday hack days,” a short competition that their team does for fun.

While using “Listen,” you can choose from a variety of languages that are installed on your device, fast forward or rewind the article, and even speed up or slow down the pace.

Oh, we should also point out that this is an Android exclusive since iOS doesn’t have a text-to-speech API for developers to use. (more…)

Familiar with Instapaper? It’s this ultra-popular iOS read it later type of app that apparently, some Android users have been begging for. Think of it as the most minimal app on the planet that allows you to catch up on articles you may have started earlier in the day, but would like to finish later. At $2.99 though, we are trying to figure out how the price is justified. Pocket (formerly Read It Later) is free and in my opinion, much more beautifully designed and with more features. Plus, I watched Instapaper’s developer the other day talk about design and being minimal, yet he couldn’t even code the legacy menu button out? That would be the awful looking black bar at the bottom of all of those screenshots.

To be fair, the app does function as advertised. It is minimal, but with just the right amount of features to allow it to get the job done. It’s up to you to decide if you want to pay that price.

Some of our favorite applications for Android received updates today, so be sure to head on over to the Play Store and pick up the newest versions. There is not anything too major in any of the updates besides your general bug fixings, but it is always good to have the latest and greatest available.

Update: Sooooo, about that Facebook update. It actually included built-in Messenger capabilities, some UI tweaks, and a new Camera shortcut so that you can shoot video and pics and the upload them directly to FB. Can’t say that I’m all that big of a fan of the added shortcuts into the app drawer. Also, we would assume this means that the stand-alone Messenger app will get the axe? Might as well uninstall it either way or you will have two Messenger apps in there.

The popular Read It Later app for Android and other platforms has undergone a full name change and UI overhaul today, turning into what is now known as Pocket. For those not familiar, think of Pocket as the service you should use if say you were in the middle of reading an article this morning before you took off to work, but wanted to finish it from your phone or tablet at lunch. Simply add it to your Pocket account with the touch of a button (Chrome browser extension) and pull it up later through the Pocket app. It’s one of those apps that you can’t live without, once you make it a part of your life. We are a busy species.

On the UI front, the app is much more minimal, clean and fast. Your articles should load faster, navigating is simpler, and organizing is easier. Is it just me or did they totally kang the Google Play theme? Maybe they meant to.

Along with the name and UI changes, the app has also become free across all platforms. Previously, there was a free and paid version, but those days are a thing of the past.

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